In group A Cittadella gets closer to the top with poker against Virtus Verona. In B, an overhead kick from Di Stefano relaunches Torres. In C, success for Sorrento over Cavese
Twelve games to kick off the first day back, which opens 2026 in Serie C. Here’s what happened.
group a
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Lecco’s journey restarts from a draw, having turned the corner 12 points from the top and could now be pushed further back and even overtaken (tomorrow Lumezzane-Vicenza and Arzignano-Brescia): in Ospitaletto, Valente’s team goes ahead from the spot with the usual Sipos, is joined by Messaggi and also risks losing them. Cittadella comes close to the podium, driven by Rabbi’s brace in poker at Virtus Verona. Trento’s rise also continues, with another brace – that of Jacopo Pellegrini, the first goals from open play of his championship – decisive in defeating Giana. Renate consolidates its position in the playoff zone, with its goal-scoring defenders (Auriletto and Spedalieri) scoring against Pergolettese. Pro Vercelli is smiling again: Burruano’s steal goal and Livieri’s saves are enough to overcome Pro Patria (their fifth defeat in a row).
group b
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A feat for Arezzo, who overturned Forlì with ten against 11 and took the provisional top spot (waiting for Ravenna, tomorrow at Campobasso): Franzolini scored in the quarter of an hour after Venturi had saved a penalty from Petrelli, the man of the match Pattarello equalised, then – after Gilli’s expulsion – it was Mawuli who found the winning move. Ascoli lost further contact at the top, penalized on the Pianese pitch by Curado’s expulsion midway through the first half: with ten men, Tomei’s team ended the first half with the lead, but was overwhelmed by the hat-trick (first among professionals, last year it was in D) from the unleashed Bellini. Pineto, increasingly solid in fourth place, who – on their first outing without Bruzzaniti, who was sold to Catania – passed to Pesaro with a one-two from Vigliotti and the former Lombardi in the first 20 minutes. The good moment of Juve Next Gen continues (streak of six useful results), which knocks out Carpi in the first half with Puczka and Okoro. At the end, a shot from Torres who returns to winning ways after an entire group, takes the direct clash in Pontedera and joins the Tuscans in the standings: brace from Lorenzo Di Stefano, first goal with an overhead kick.
group c
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Picerno, still last but with four new players signed up at the opening of the transfer market (Daniele Franco immediately starting), overtakes Cerignola by exploiting their numerical superiority towards the end due to Vitale’s expulsion. In the evening match, Ubaldi’s goal midway through the second half was enough for Cavese to deservedly beat Sorrento (a result not called into question by Diarrassouba’s expulsion a quarter of an hour from time).
GROUP A
Cittadella-Virtus Verona 4-1
Anastasia (C) at 21′ pt, Rabbi (C) at 50′ pt; Rabbi (C) at 5′ st, Patané (V) at 37′ st, Vita (C) at 43′ st
Trento-Giana 3-1
Pellegrini (T) in the 30th minute; Berretta (G) in the 2nd minute, Pellegrini (T) on a penalty in the 37th minute, Dalmonte (T) in the 44th minute
Ospitaletto-Lecco 1-1
Sipos (L) on a penalty in the 17th minute, Messaggi (O) in the 33rd minute
Pro Vercelli-Pro Patria 1-0
Burruano (PV) in the 12th minute
Renate-Pergolettese 2-1
Auriletto (R) at 25′ point; Spedalieri (R) in the 23rd minute, Arini (P) in the 36th minute
GROUP B
Juventus Next Gen-Carpi 2-0
Puczka at 23′, Okoro at 45′ pt
Pianese-Ascoli 4-2
Bellini (P) on a penalty in the 30th minute, Milanese (A) in the 35th minute, Silipo (A) in the 43rd minute, Bellini (P) on a penalty in the 49th minute; Bellini (P) in the 36th minute, Sodero (P) in the 45th minute
Pontedera-Torres 1-3
Di Stefano (T) in the 8th minute, own goal by Cerretti (P) in the 10th minute, Faggi (P) in the 19th minute; Di Stefano (T) in the 7th minute
Forlì-Arezzo 1-2
Franzolini (F) in the 16th minute; Pattarello (A) in the 10th minute, Mawuli (A) in the 48th minute
Vis Pesaro-Pineto 0-2
Vigliotti in the 7th minute, Lombardi in the 18th minute
GROUP C
Picerno-Cerignola 1-1
D’Orazio (C) in the 6th minute, Frison (P) in the 47th minute
Cavese-Sorrento 1-0
Ubaldi (C) in the 24th minute
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